On Friday, South Korea’s Kospi surged more than 2%, reaching a record high of 3,941.59, driven by regional optimism following the White House announcement of upcoming talks between U.S. President Donald Trump and China’s President Xi Jinping next week. U.S. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that Trump is scheduled to visit Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea before meeting Xi next Thursday after speaking at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation CEO Summit. South Korea’s small-cap Kosdaq also climbed 1.27% to 883.08, while the finance ministry announced its readiness to intervene in the foreign exchange market to stabilize the won, which appreciated 0.11% to 1,434.7 against the dollar despite a 4% depreciation over the past three months.

In Japan, the benchmark Nikkei 225 rose 1.35% to 49,299.65, with the Topix gaining 0.48% to 3,269.45. Core inflation in September climbed to 2.9%, marking the first increase since May and exceeding the 2.7% recorded in August, reflecting expectations that incorporate energy costs while excluding fresh food prices. Australia’s ASX/S&P 200 declined 0.15% to 9,019 as the Reserve Bank of Australia announced plans to evaluate upgrades to the interbank settlement system next year, including modernized data-exchange technologies, extended operating hours, and greater utilization of central bank money for settlements.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index rose 0.77%, and China’s CSI 300 gained 1.18%, closing at 4,660.68, highlighting regional market resilience. Investors reacted positively to trade developments and central bank measures, balancing geopolitical concerns with domestic economic data. The broader Asia-Pacific market reflected a mix of cautious optimism and strategic planning, with governments and central banks taking steps to ensure financial stability amid global uncertainties.

In the U.S., major indices also recorded gains in the overnight session. The S&P 500 increased 0.58% to 6,738.44, led by technology stocks after strong earnings reports. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 144.20 points, or 0.31%, to 46,734.61, while the Nasdaq Composite climbed 0.89% to 22,941.80, boosted by advances in Nvidia, Broadcom, and Amazon. Oracle shares jumped nearly 3% amid positive sentiment in the artificial intelligence sector, contributing to broader market optimism.